Daniel 6:18
“Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting. No musical instruments were brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.”
What does Daniel 6:18 mean?
King Darius couldn't eat or sleep the night after Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, despite having signed the decree himself. His restlessness shows how deeply he cared for Daniel and how much he regretted being manipulated by jealous officials into an unjust law. Even a king's attempts to distract himself with music and food couldn't quiet his conscience, revealing that some worries run too deep for comfort or entertainment to touch. This moment captures something real about guilt and care: when we've done something wrong or someone we value is in danger, our bodies refuse to cooperate with normalcy.